Combined eraser particle collecting device and dust guard for typewriters



W. SISKIND May 13, 1958 COMBINED ERASER PARTICLE COLLECTING DEVICE 1, AND DUST GUARD FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed July 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a INVENTOR William Sis/Tina! ATTORNEYJ y 13, 1953 w. SISKIND 2,83

COMBINED ERASER PARTICLE COLLECTING DEVICE AND DUST GUARD FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed July 1?, 1956 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 INVENTOR V I Wz'ZZiamSZs/iz'nd as v I 1% BY 39 v ATTORNEY ,5

United States Patent Gee-.-

COMBINED ERASER PARTICLE COLLECTING DE- VICE AND DUST GUARD F OR TYPEWRITERS William Siskind, Takoma Park, Md.

Application July 17, 1956, Serial No. 598,436

9 Claims. (Cl. 197-181) one of the major problems in connection with typewriter repair and upkeep is the removal of erased particles which fall onto and between-the type bars and their operating mechanism as a result of erasures made by the typist.

It is an object of my invention to provide a dustcollecting pan which may be easily mounted on a typewriter and will pivot readily into and out of position to collect erased particles adjacent the platen and anvil.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dustcolle'cting pan which is associated with a typewriter and that is held in retracted position by electrically energized means against a biasing mechanism such that upon deenergizing the electrical retracting means, the biasing mechanism moves the pan into erasure-collecting position adjacent the platen and anvil as well as serving as a protective cover over the type bars when the typewriter is not in use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a dustcollecting pan for a typewriter which is mounted thereon for pivotal movement into erasure-collecting position adjacent the platen and anvil of a typewriter wherein the pan in its movement is interlocked with an eraser member such that the removal of the eraser automatically causes the pan to position itself adjacent the platen to collect erased particles.

' Another object of my invention is to provide a dustcollecting pan which is associated with a typewriter and that is held in retracted position by electrically energized pan movement is interlocked with an eraser in the electrical energizing means such that removal of the eraser automatically interrupts the electrical means permitting the biasing means in this case to pivot the dust pan to position adjacent the platen to collect erased particles and replacement of the eraser causes the electrical means to retract the dust pan.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a cooperating additional feature to the immediately foregoing object which is an interrupting means for the electrical energizing means in addition to the eraser actuation which upon actuation of the interrupting means, as when electrical current is turned oif of an electric typewriter, the dust pan moves to a cover position adjacent the platen and anvil to provide a dust cover over the type bars and their operating mechanism when the typewriter is not being used during shut-down periods.

.Still further objects and the entirescope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the means against-a biasing means and wherein the dust 2 34 49. Patented May 13, 1958 detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific, examplesare given by way of illustration only and, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are not given by way of limitation, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be had to the drawings and description which follows in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of a typewriter and a plan view of the apparatus according to my invention attached thereto; I

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along line*2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the mounting of the apparatus on a typewriter;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the dust pan in retraeted position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the dust pan and associated platen along line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with the lid of the dust pan shown in broken line as it would be in open position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plane view along section line 5-5 showing the gear drive for the pivotal mounting of the dust pan; t

Fig. 6 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the dust pan;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a secretarial typewriter eraser adapted for interlock in the operating mechanism of the dust pan;

Fig. 8 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified mechanism for holding the dust pan retracted;

Fig. 9 is a right-hand elevational view as viewed from the right of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a circuit diagram for the modified apparatus shown in Figs. 8, 9, l0, and 11;

Fig. 11 is a detailed sectional view along line 1111 of Fig. 9.

Throughout the description like reference numerals refer to similar parts.

A typewriter is generally indicated at 10 and it has the usual platen 11 with an anvil area and type bars and mechanism therefor beneath the anvil generally indicated at A in Fig. 1. The typewriter as shown in Fig. 2 has the usual cover generally indicated at 12 having a shelf or top portion 12' and a generally vertical side portion 12". The top 12' and the vertical side portion 12" of the cover 12 serves as a mounting over which the apparatus according to my invention is easily clamped in place. 5 p

The dust pan mechanism for collecting particles of erasures and for covering the anvil and typewriter por tion when the typewriter is not in use according to my invention is generally indicated at 13 and includes a mounting bracket 14 having a horizontal .top portion 14' overlying the top 12' of the cover 12, a generally vertical side portion 14" overlying the vertical side 12" of the cover, and inturned hook-like bottom portion 14a which hooks over the bottom of the side of the cover 12" as best shown in Fig. 2 and a pivotally attached locking clamp 15 pivotally attached at 16 to the inboard end of the top portion 14 such that the clamp 15 fits underneath the inboard edge of the top 12'. Mounted on this mounting bracket 14 is the control means generally indicated at 16 which includes the eraser generally indicated at 17. The control'means 16 is made up of the pivotal lever 16, a stop in the form of a spool-like member, as indicated at 18, attached to the outboard end of the lever, and a cooperating fixed spool-like member 19 attached by a post 19 to the up-' 3 lever 16' is pivoted t the mounting bracket 14 in the top14' thereof byar'ivet 26 while the inboard end of the lever has a gear rack 21 formed thereonwhich'extends in an arcuate manner. To assist in a smooth pivotal movement of the lever 16' there is provided an arcuate cutaway'portion 2 2" in spaced relation in from thera'ck '21 and positioned in this cutaway portion 22 for gu d ng movement is fixed post 23 riveted tothe mounting plate top 14'. The pivot post 23 has mounted thereon as shown in Fig. a roller 23' which fits within the arcuate slot 22 to provide frictionless movement. Cooperating with the gear rack 21 is a pinion 24 mounted on a pivot post 25 extending upward from the top of the mounting bracket 14'. Fixed to the top of the pimon' 24 as by pin 24' is a pivot arm 26 having the dust pan generallydndicated at 27 mounted on the outer end'tliereofj "The arm 26 has a dog leg shape 26' at 1ts"p1-votal'mouriting as best shown in Fig. 1 so that the apparatus is as compact as possible. The relationship of the gear rack '21 and the teeth on the pinion 24 is suchthat'relative "short arcuate movement of the arm 16"asfshown'in Fig. 1 moves the dust'pau adjacent the platen ll so that it is in position for collecting particles which may be erased when an erasure takes place. Thus, the particles are prevented from dropping down in-between the type bars and their operating mechanism beloow the dust pan and causing defective operation of the typewriter.

A power drive mechanism in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is provided through the spring 28 which has. one end attached to a transverse bracket 14b integral with the depending portion 14" of bracket 14 as indicated by the eye 14b while the other end of the spring 28. which serves as the power drive means is attached to an eye 18' in the mounting of the spool-like abutment 18 as best shown in Fig. 3. Upon positioning the eraser member generally indicated at 17 between the spool-like members 18 and 19 the control means generally indicated at 16 is pivoted to' the full line position as shown in Fig. l, and in so doing it moves the dust pan 27 from broken line position to the retracted position. To assist in the placement of the eraser member 17 the frame thereof has a wedge-shape construction wherein the. sides 17a and 17b taper so that they come together in close spaced relation at their bottom and support a brush b. while their top support the usual circular eraser 17e, in a pivotal manner on the upstanding ears 17c. The sides 17a and 17b have semi-circular arcuate portions cuttherein as at 1711' and 17b. 'On inserting the eraser member -17 the wedge-shape portion is inserted between the posts 18 and 19 and moved downward or thrust downward until the arcuate portions 17a and 17b come into contact with the spool-like posts IQJand 18, respectively.

The dust pan 27 is generally square in shape and it has a floor 29, three upstanding vertical sides 30, '31, and 32, and atop 33 including lip portions extending inwardly over the floor, of the dust'pan and around the sides thereof.

Therear portion of the top as indicated at 33' is turned in and under in a semi-circular manner so as to form a hinge within the elongated slot 30 in the back 30 of the dust pan. Along the front frame portion 33" of the top 33; there is attached a formed end closure member 34 of rubber or composition for the dust pan and having an arcuate face '34 which fits up against the platen 11 as best shown in Fig. 4 so that any erased particles will fall down over the front face 34 along the sloping top 34" and be received'within the dust pan 27. This end closure 34 has two longitudinal spaced may be detached from the floor29 so that it may be hinged up as shown in the broken line position in Fig.

4 4 to remove any dust particles from the dust pan. This removal of the dust particles would take place when the du's't'p'a'n'i's retracted as shown in'Fig. l.

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 illustrate a modified form of the invention. The dust pan here at 27 is like the dust pan previously described and the mounting bracket 14 is similar. A pivot arm 35 similar to pivot arm 26 is mounted on a pivot post 25 as in the prior construction described above. Pivot arm 35 is cut away at 35 so as to permit rear outward pivoting of the arm 35 back adjacent the guide post 23. The operating means including the pivotal lever 35 is similar in construction to the lever 16 which is similarly pivoted on the post 20 attached to the mounting bracket 14. The depending outer end of lever 36 as indicated at 36 is bent into a transverse portion 36 which has an aperture 37 therein extending upwardly and to the left as shown in Fig. 11. Mounted on the bracket 14 is a solenoid generally indicated at 36 having an armature 39 received at its outer end within the slot 37 of bracket 36 and formed with a head 39 so that the armature 39 will when reciprocated by the solenoid 38 within which it is mounted freely move the lever 36' therewith. Armature 39 extending through the solenoid 38 has a spring 40 which is compressed in the full line position shown and relieves itself as shown in the broken line when the solenoid 38 is deenergized and the circuit is broken. When the circuit is broken the dust pan 27 moves into dust-collecting position or in a position over the anvil and type bars and their operating mechanism Thus, when the solenoid 38 is energized it holds the dust pan retracted in this arrangement. By this arrangernent the device may be attached to an electric typewriter or to a typewriter which is provided with a circuit so that upon deenergizing the solenoid the dust pan 27 will be positioned in a covering position over the anvil and the type bars of the typewriter to prevent dust and particles from falling therein while the typewriter is idle. While the typewriter is being used and the switch is turned on, the solenoid retracts the dust pan and holds it out of dust-collecting position as viewed in Fig. 8. To accomplish this operation a typical circuit diagram is provided as shown in Fig. 10 having power supply lines 41 and 42, a cut-off switch 43 leading to typewriter T which in this case is illustrated as an electric typewriter. Power lines 41 and 42 serve to supply power to the solenoid 38 through the lines 44 attached to line 42 and to the solehold and through line 45 which leads through a microswitch 46 having terminals 46 and 46". The microswit'ch 46 is shown in mounted position in Fig. 9 and is actuated by. a typewriter eraser 47 by having the microswitch plunger 46 thereof actuated by an arm 47 on the eraser'generally indicated at 47 housed within a pocket 48 attached to the front portion ofthe cover 12 of the typewriter. Thus, upon removal of the eraser 47, the plunger 46 of the 'microswitch 46'moves out and uncovers the terminals 46 and 46" thus removing a bridge thereacross and interrupting the circuit in line 45 to the solenoid 38 and causing the solenoid to be deenergized whereupon the spring 40 takes over and moves the armature 39. so as to position the dust tray 27 to a dust-collecting position where the pan covers the anvil and type bars in' a protective manner.

I have thus described in my modification and have illustrated a 2-purpose dust pan that may be used for its novel purpose of being positioned adjacent the anvil to collect erasure particules upon removal of the eraser in its normal position as shown in Fig. 9. In addition, it will be observed that when the switch 43 is open, as when the typewriter is shut off, solenoid 38 will be de; energized and spring 40 will cause the lever 3 6"to move to the broken line position as shown in Fig. 9 and 'will' move the tray.27 into'diist-coll'ecting position which isnow a cover positionfor the anvil and the, type bars and the operating mechanism thereunder. 'I. have provided a highly compact and easily mounted attachment for a typewriter which may within the spirit of my invention either be built into or attached to a typewriter and which provides for moving a dust pan into erasure particle collecting position or to a position similar when the typewriter is shut off, in the case of an electric typewriter, to provide a cover for the anvil and the type bars and operating mechanism thereunder.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a typewriter having a platen, an anvil adjacent the platen and type bars and operating mechanism therefor beneath the anvil, the improvement comprising a dust pan pivotally mounted on the typewriter tor movement into and out of a position adjacent said platen and over said anvil for collecting any erased particles when the operator makes an erasure and preventing the particles from falling between said type bars and their operating mechanism, mounting means attached to the typewriter for movably supporting said pan for pivotal movement, power drive means urging said'pan into erasure particle collecting position and cover position for said type bars and their operating mechanism adjacent said platen, and control means for said' power means, said control means including an eraser member used for erasing typed ,work adapted to be housed in said control means and upon removal therefrom causing said power means and the control means operated thereby to move said dust pan and its pivotal mounting means so that the dust pan is positioned adjacent the platen to collect erased particles and cover said type bars and their operating mechanism.

2. In combination with a typewriter having a platen, an anvil adjacent the platen and type bars beneath the anvil, the improvement comprising a dust pan mounted on the typewriter for pivotal movement into and out of engagement adjacent said platen and over said anvil for collecting any erased particles when the operator makes an erasure and preventing any particles from falling between said type bars and their operating mechanism, mounting means attached to the typewriter for pivotally supporting said pan, said mounting means having spring means urging said pan into engagement with said platen, lock means connected with said typewriter and mounting means for holding said mounting means and dust pan away from said platen, said lock means including an eraser member used for erasing typed work and adapted to be inserted in the lock means to hold said pan and its pivotal mounting means retracted from the platen and upon removal of the eraser from the lock means permitting the spring means to move said dust pan and its mounting means so that the dust pan is positioned adjacent the platen to collect erased particles and to prevent any particles from dropping into the type bars and their operating mechanism.

3. An attachment for a typewriter for collecting erased particles,.said typewriter having a platen, an anvil, type bars and operating mechanism positioned below said anvil and platen, said attachment comprising, in cornbination, a mounting bracket, a dust pan support means pivotally mounted on said bracket, a dust pan supported by said dust pan support means, spring means attached to said mounting bracket and said dust pan support means and urging said dust pan support means so that said dust pan is positioned adjacent said platen over said anvil to receive erased particles falling when typed work is erased and preventing such particles from falling into said type bars and their operating mechanism, and lock means attached to said bracket and dust pan support means for holding said dust pan support means and the dust pan in pivotally retracted positionaway from said platen, said lock means including an eraser member adapted to be inserted in the lock means to hold said dust pan and its mounting means pivotally retracted and upon removal of the eraser from the lock means permitting the dust pan mounting means to be urged by the spring means to pivotally position the dust pan adjacent the platen over the anvil.

4. In combination with a typewriter having a platen, an anvil adjacent the platen, type bars, and type bar operating mechanism beneath the anvil, the improvement comprising a dust pan mounted on the typewriter for movement into and out of a position adjacent said platen and over said anvil for collecting any erased particles when the operator makes an erasure and preventing the particles from falling between said type bars and their operating mechanism, mounting means attached to the typewriter for movably supporting said pan, power drive means urging said pan into erasure particle collecting position adjacent said platen, and control means for said power drive means comprising a solenoid, power means for the solenoid, said solenoid being operatively connected to said mounting means movably supporting said pan, said solenoid upon being energized by said power means urging said mounting means and the dust pan thereon out of erasure collecting position adjacent said platen,said power means including an eraser member used for erasing typed work, an energizing circuit for said solenoid and first switch means in said circuit upon opening of same causing said solenoid to be deenergized and said power drive means to move said tray in position adjacent said platen, said eraser being mountable adjacent said first switch means whereby removal of said an anvil adjacent the platen and type bars and operating mechanism therefor beneath the anvil, the improvement comprising a dust pan pivotally mounted on the typewriter for movement into and out of a position ad acent said platen and over said anvil for collecting any erased particles when the operator makes an erasure and preventing particles from falling between said type bars and operating mechanism, a mounting bracket for attachment to said typewriter, a pivotally mounted lever arm pivoted to said bracket and having a curved drive portion on one end thereof, a dust pan arm pivoted to said bracket and having a curved drive portion thereon in driving engagement with the drive portion on said lever arm, said dust pan being mounted on said dust pan arm, an abutment member mounted on said bracket, a similar abutment member mounted on said lever arm in adjacent spaced relationship to said abutment on the bracket, spring means connected to said lever arm and urging the lever arm to pivot said dust pan arm to bring the dust pan into engagement with said platen, an eraser member used for erasing typed work adapted to be housed between said abutment members and when in place pivoting said lever to move said dust pan arm and dust pan into retracted position from said platen and when removedfrom between said abutment members, causing said spring means to pivot the lever arm and the dust pan arm to place the dust pan adjacent said platen.

7. A device of the character described in claim 6 wherein said bracket has a depending portion at one end adapted to fit over a generally vertically extending cover on the typewriter and a fastening means at the other end of the bracket for attaching the same to the adjacent cover portion of the typewriter.

8. In combination with a typewriter having a plat en, an anvil adjacent the platen and type bars and operatmg mechanism therefor beneath the anvil, the improvement comprising a dust pan pivotally mounted on the type writer for movement into and out of a position adjacent said platen and over said anvil for collecting any erased particles when the operator makes an erasure and preventing particles from falling between said type bars and operating mechanism, a mounting bracket for attachment to said typewriterfa pivotally mounted lever arm pivoted to said bracket and having a curved drive portion on one end thereof, a dust pan arm pivoted to said bracket and having a curved'drive portion thereon in driving engagement with the drive portion on said lever arm; said dust pan being mounted on said dust pan arm, a solenoid attached to said bracket and having an armature, a spring attached to said solenoid and armature urging sa'id armature to one position, said solenoid on energization moving said armature to bias said spring, said "armature being connected to said lever arm to pivot the same and in turn said dust pan arm, a circuit for said solenoid having a first switch means therein, an

eraser member associated with said first switch means for closing same when housed therein whereby said sole noid is energized and said armature causes said dust pan arm to be retracted and said spring to be biased and upon opening of said first switch means by removal of said eraser, said dust pan arm is swung by said spring to a position adjacent said platen.

9. A device according to claim 8 including a second switch means connected in said circuit, said second switch means upon being opened interrupting said circuit to said solenoid and permitting said spring to pivot said lever arm and in turn the dust pan arm to position said dust pan adjacent said platen and to serve as a cover over said anvil and the type bars and their operating mechanism therebeneath.

No references cited. 

